MGMA: Specialty Physicians’ Salaries Remain Flat, Primary Care Sees Small Increase

The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) released its latest data regarding physician earnings. The 2008 report is based on 2007 annual compensation, and the results show that compensation for specialists was generally flat, and some specialists even showed a decline in average income when compared to data from the previous year.

The following specialties experienced a decline or remained flat, failing to keep pace with inflation, according to the MGMA:

• Invasive Cardiologists (down 0.18 percent)
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Oncologists

The following specialists managed a slight increase in annual pay:

• Non-invasive cardiologists (up 11.72 percent)
• Urologists (up 5.5 percent)
• Anesthesiologists (up 6.43 percent)

Additionally, primary care physicians (internal medicine, pediatrics, and family practice) reported an increase of about 3.35 percent, according to the MGMA report. These figures include adjustments for inflation.

According to William F. Jessee, MD, FACMPE, President and CEO of the MGMA, this increase for primary care physicians is not much of a consolation to the physician community, due to practice costs and overhead continuing to rise at “staggering rates.” To learn more, visit the MGMA online.

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• Physician Career Profile
• Physician Compensation and Town Size